Understanding Arc fault and AFCI Protection

What is Arc Fault?

Most people are familiar with the term arcing. Arcing may be intended, such as with an arc welder or unintended, such as when a tree falls on a power line during a storm creating a current discharge between conductors or to the ground.

An arc fault is an unintended arc created by a current flowing through an unplanned path. Arcing creates high-intensity heating at the point of the arc resulting in burning particles that may easily ignite surrounding material, such as wood framing or insulation. The temperatures of these arcs can exceed 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Why is it important to have an AFCI Breaker installed in your home?

AFCIs were developed in response to an identified electrical problem causing fires in the home as noted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and other prominent organizations. An AFCI breaker provides a higher level of protection than a standard circuit breaker by detecting and removing the hazardous arcing condition before it becomes a fire hazard.